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be jiletropolfs.

At a meeting of the Lambeth Electoral Association, held on Tuesday, the conduct of Mr. Tennyson D'Eyncourt, in absenting himself front the division of the House of Commons on Mr. Cobden's motion, was debated. Mr. Theodore Jones, Secretary of the Association, moved that Mr. D'Eyn- court's reasons for that course, which he gave in an explanatory note since written by him, were most unsatisfactory. After debate, and the re- jection of a more moderate resolution, Mr. Jones's motion was carried by a large majority. A motion was finally carried, that Mr. D'Eyncourt had forfeited his claim to the support of the electors of Lambeth. large majority. A motion was finally carried, that Mr. D'Eyncourt had forfeited his claim to the support of the electors of Lambeth.

A public dinner was given to Mr. Charles Enderby, on Wednesday, on the eve of his starting for the South Seas in prosecution of his scheme of renewing on a great scale the South Sea whale-fishery, which has for some years past been almost abandoned to American enterprise. Admiral Dun- dee presided; Lord Colchester, Sir William Clay, and several other Mem- bers of Parliament, were present.

The Health of Towns Association held its annual general meeting on Tuesday, at the rooms of the Statistical Society in St. James's Square; the Honourable F. Byng in the chair. The financial report showed that 1,5561. had been received, and 1,509/. expended. Mr. Grainger regretted that the progress of sanatory measures in the Metropolis was at a stand-still, for want of powers to carry them out— When the attention of the Board of Health has been directed to the exist- ence of nuisances, their power in most cases extended only to compelling the re- moval of the nuisances from day to day; but they had not the means of striking at the root of the evil by entirely abolishing or causing the complete discontinu- ance of the causes themselves. A large portion of Fleet Ditch, which ran through the district, was open, and a variety of manufacturing processes of an unhealthy tendency had been attracted there in consequence; a number of slaughterhouses were erected immediately adjoining the ditch, and holes were cut in the wall for the purpose of allowing the filth to ran into it: and yet within a few feet of this open ditch, from which the most nauseous and noxious exhalations were constantly thrown off, was a local school for infant children. It is also indispensable that there should be legislative control over the common lodging-houses of the Metro- polio; whose filth and overcrowding he showed to be extremely injurious to the health of the neighbourhoods in which they are situated. Mr. Liddle called for increased support to an association which had done so much good— The public thought that the appointment of a Sanatory Commission had ren- dered that Association unnecessary, and thence arose the apathy which existed. Much, too, had been anticipated from the working of the Metropolitan Commis- sioners of Sewers ; but, in his opinion, they had not succeeded so well as their predecessors.

The tenth annual report of King's College Hospital, issued on Thurs- day, comprises several interesting statistics relative to the extent of sick- ness and disease in the Metropolis, but more particularly in the densely- peopled quarter in which the Hospital stands. It appears that during 1848, there were 1,253 patients admitted into the wards of the Hospital; being precisely the same numbers as in the previous year. The out- patients numbered 19,383, including 419 poor married women who were attended during their confinement at their own houses. The total number of out-door patients treated since the foundation of the charity now amounts to considerably upwards of 117,000; while the in-patients have reached close upon ten thousand fire hundred. The report further states, that the deficiency of income during the last three years has left the in- stitution (at the end of 1848) in debt to the extent of 3901.; but little doubt is expressed that the exertions of the Governors and friends will speedily remove so small a financial embarrassment.

The trial of Bartholomew Peter Drouet came suddenly to an early and unex- pected conclusion on Saturday afternoon. It will suffice to indicate the remarka- ble tone of the proceedings, and to state the legal point. on which the determination of the case hinged. Mr. Montague Chambers attempted to make out a case of general criminal neglect in all the arrangements of the Surrey Hall establishment; to show that the building was generally ill-ventilated, and the food generally in- sufficient and unhealthful. But strenuous objection to this course was raised by Baron Platt; who insisted on excluding all evidence which did not relate specific- ally to the very room in which the destitute child James Andrews slept for some time before he was removed by the Holborn Guardians, with the other children, to the Royal Free Hospital, where he died next day. Mr. Chambers was pertina- cious in his endeavours to force in his general evidence ; the fact being, that the nurse who attended Andrews's room had herself fallen a victim to the cholera, while attending the children. Some degree of warmth was displayed both by counsel and judge. Mr. Baron Platt said, he had observed that on the inquest many witnesses were examined without being on their oath,—a most unjust and irregular proceeding. This remark was loudly applauded by a considerable num- ber of spectators; and one journal states that the prisoner added his testimony of approval by audibly slapping the bar at which he stood arraigned. At another point, Mr. Chambers was forbidden to give evidence of starving and ill-clothing, from the statements of boys aged fifteen and sixteen, on the ground that they dad not take their meals or reside in the same rooms with the lesser boys, of whom James Andrews was one. Mr. Chambers refused to ask any other questions, and abruptly sat down ; Mr. Baron Platt declaring that the prisoner must have" fair play." Subsequently, he gave his opinion that the appeal made to the boys by the Visituoig Guardians— Now, boys, if you are dissatisfied with anything, hold up your hands " —was very likely to tend to insubordination. A question put by Mr. Chambers on Saturday produced the exclamation, "What's the use of evidence like that?" The de- finite pathological indication of " tumid abdomen" was corrected by him into the phrase "swelled belly." Revolting facts relative to the prevalence of the itch having been stated, he interposed twice with the question, "Did you ever hear of cholera being caused by the itch?" and once with the question, " Does itch result from not having enough to eat?" (Laughter.) At the close of the evidence, Sir Frederick Thesiger argued that the facts proved his client's innocence. It might be perfectly true that the treatment of the chil- dren had brought them into a low and susceptible condition of body; but nothing showed that the fatal attack of cholera upon Andrews was directly owing to Mr. Droners treatment. The case is analogous to a first and second wound, inflicted by two moving causes. The second wound, in this case the cholera, is a distinct agent, the effects of which Mr. Dronet could not prevent.

Mr. Ballantine enforced this view by supposing a person to be lamed by one man, and then some months after to be driven over and killed by a second man, whose omnibus the lame man was unable to escape by reason of his lameness. Would the first man be answerable for the death, as well as the second ?

Mr. Chambers admitted it was a novel case—fit for the Jury. Here Mr. Baron Platt started a new and fatal defect: no evidence had been called to show that Andrews was ever so well that he could have resisted the disease; it would re- main uncertain, therefore, whether he did not die simply from the cholera, and whether he would not have died from it if he had been well-treated, instead of ill- treated, by Mr. Drouet. In the absence of such evidence, he thought the prisoner ought to be acquitted. The Foreman of the July immediately rose, and said that the verdict of tht Jury was "Not guilty.' 'This announcement drew forth loud manifestations of approval from many parties present; but the officers of the Court promptly en- forced silence. Mr. Baron Platt, addressing the officers, said—" If any man is seen misconduct- ing himself in court, as I have seen many persons in the gallery do this day, bring him into court, and he shall be sent to gaoL"

Mr. Clarkson, the junior counsel for the prosecution, stated that as the deposi tions were not so strong in the other indictments, he should not produce any evi- dence in them. Verdicts of "Not guilty " were therefore taken in each, and the prisoner was set at liberty. Richard Loder, late overseer of the Justitia hulk, who pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing 750/. the property of the Queen, was sentenced, on Saturday, to be transported for seven years. He fainted on hearing the sentence.

Hardy, Mr. Pulley's clerk, and Mansell, the young man who fled with him, were tried, the first for forging the check, the second for harbouring Hardy after the crime. The evidence was quite conclusive; but the Jury added to their verdict a recommendation of mercy.

On Monday, Mr. John Cutts, solicitor, and William Evans, his clerk, were tried for forging certain receipts for money. An outline of the case has been already given. The prosecutor was Mr. Edmund Salmon. Property in Essex had been left to him and his two brothers, and it was sold by auction; "Lot No. 8" was bought by Mr. Cutts for the prosecutor, who was not of age at the time. When he attained his majority, he wished to repudiate the bargain; but Mr. Cutts pro- duced in Chancery receipts for money which he had advanced "on account of Lot 8" to Mr. Salmon. The money had been lent and receipts given; but the prosecutor declared that it was not on account of the property; and he alleged that the words quoted above had been fraudulently added by Evans, at the insti- gation of Cutts, subsequently to his signing the receipts. It came out in cross- examination, that Salmon had married Evans's sister, and that he owed Mr. Cutts a grudge for not having got him a farm. The prosecution was conducted by one Boulter, who had been clerk to Mr. Cutts, and was now manager for a rival lawyer in Essex: &miter went before the Grand Jury, but was not called at the trial. Two witnesses who had examined the receipts expressed their be- lief that in some of them the words "on account of Lot 8" were not written at the same time as the rest of the document; and the wards seemed to have been pencilled before they were written in ink. An attempt was made to stop the case without a defence, on the ground of the insufficiency of the evidence; but one Juryman was not prepared to acquit.

Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Sir Frederick Thesiger then made addresses for the prisoners; pointing out the weakness of the testimony, the spiteful animus of the 'Prosecutor, and the object he would gain by convicting the accused—the annul- ling of a bargain which he had repented. Sir Frederick Thesiger remarked, that it was absurd to suppose that Evans would pencil writing which he wished to add to a document originally penned by himself: The Jury acquitted the prisoners without troubling the Judge to sum up.

William Bailey was tried for the murder of William Lambskill. The circum- stances of the crime were mentioned last week. The prisoner was found guilty of manslaughter only, and he was sentenced to be transported for life.

On Tuesday, Peter Leith, chief mate of the Indian, from New Zealand, was convicted of the manslaughter of Solomon Abrahams, on the high seas. The de- ceased was a Jew boy, who was to work his passage home; he was of dirty habits, and the crew complained of him; to correct him, Leith beat the lad, but exces- sively. It did not appear that he acted from malice towards Abrahams, and the Jury recommended him to mercy. The sentence was three months' imprisonment.

Edward Stannard, the "wine-merchant," was tried for feloniously converting Efteen railway shares, value 1001., to his own use. This was the case where a pretended employer got the shares as a security from Mr. Walker, his clerk, and then raised money on them. The prisoner had been a thorough rogue in his pro- ceedings. He cheated another clerk, in divers ways, of 1401.; and had been in- solvent for 1,5001., having begun business with nothing. He was convicted. Sentence, eighteen months imprisonment, with hard labour.

John and Eliza Copeland, the couple who were acquitted on a charge of mur- dering their child, were tried for assaulting and neglecting it. They were found guilty of a common assault, and each was ordered to be imprisoned for six months. During this trial, there was a regular Old Bailey "scene" between the Judge—Mr. Commissioner Bullock—and Mr. Prendergast. The latter put a question to a witness; an opposing counsel said it was a "leading" one; and the Judge decided that it could not be put. Mr. Prendergast rebelled, insisting that the question was correct: Mr. Bullock had better consult some one on the point- Mr. Prendergast, when desired by the Judge to "sit down," declared that he should not—he should please himself. The Bench retorted, that he might "stand if he liked." Mr. Prendergast rejoined, be would not be put down by a "person" who did not know more, if so much, of these things as he did. After the Judge had retorted to all these "disgraceful observations," and called for decency and respect towards the Court, he himself asked the witness the question on which all the dignified con- tention had arisen.

Orlando Legg, master mariner, pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting his son, a cabin-boy ; and was fined 20/.

The Reverend John George Hounsfield, who was charged with obtaining 2001. by a fraudulent pretence, has been reexamined at the Lambeth Police-office. The clerk to a Sheffield solicitor has proved that the estate on which the accused raised the money passed out of his hands in 1839, when he became a bankrupt; it was publicly sold by the assignees in 1840. Other criminatory testimony has also been given.

At Bow Street Police-office, on Tuesday, there was a reexamination of Timoleon Vlasto, the young foreigner who robbed the British Museum. He has very re- spectable connexions at Vienna. As many as 475 coins and medals were found at his lodgings; of which 214, of great value, were identified as part of the Museum collection; 71 had been stolen from General Fox, one from the Bank of England, and a number from the Museum at Paris. Mr. Doubleday spoke to the identity of the coins stolen from the British Museum. General Fox deposed to the manner in which the prisoner had been introduced to him, and had been allowed to inspect his cabinets; Vlasto had stolen property from the witness worth more than 150/.

At the Lambeth Police, office, on Monday, Johnson, aged eighteen, Elliott, seventeen, and Louisa Savage, nineteen, were charged with burglary. During Sunday night, the two young fellows were seized by the police at Newington, while running away after discharging a pistol in Francis Street. They had a brace of pistoL3, a dark lantern, a "jemmy," and a bunch of skeleton-keys. The girl was captured at their lodgings; she had thrown a second bunch of skeleton- keys into another lodger's room. A quantity of property was found, and pawn- brokers' duplicates for a great deal more. The thieves seem to have operated largely at Walworth. The pistols, with 48/. in money and other property, were stolen from the house of the Reverend Mr. O'Riley ; shirts found at the prisoners' lodgings were part of the plunder of a house in Hanover Street; Mr. Mecham, a carpenter, recognized his coat and trousers on Johnson; and other persons identi- fied various articles as having been burglariously stolen from them. Remanded.

Miss Lydia Dixon has been reexamined by the Richmond Magistrates. Two letters were read from persons acquainted with Miss Dixon: Mr. Betts, a surgeon of Hammersmith, stated that she was strange and eccentric, and had suffered from brain-fever; Mr. Tapstell, of Rotherhithe, requested the Magistrates to in- quire into her mental state, as he believed that her mind had been unsound for a long period through severe illness. More cases of theft were gone into, and the prisoner was again remanded. Additional property had been found at a lodging rented by Miss Dixon at Hammersmith. At the two lodgings goods of a most miscellaneous nature and in great quantities were accumulated; and as no at- tempt had been made to remove the private marks of the tradesmen, nearly all, it is expected, will be identified.